VAT Calculator (EU) - Add or Remove VAT

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What is a VAT Calculator?

VAT stands for value added tax. It is a tax on goods and services that is added to the price at each step of the supply chain, and the final buyer pays it as part of the price. A VAT calculator works out the tax for you, either by adding it to a price that does not include it yet or by taking it out of a price that already includes it.

This calculator is built for the European Union, where every member country sets its own standard VAT rate. You choose Add VAT or Remove VAT, enter an amount and a rate, and you get the net price, the VAT amount and the gross price.

How to Use the VAT Calculator

1. Choose Add VAT if you have a net price (without VAT), or Remove VAT if you have a gross price (with VAT).
2. Enter the amount.
3. Pick an EU country to fill in its standard VAT rate, or type the rate in percent yourself.
4. Choose the currency symbol: EUR, GBP or USD.
5. Click Calculate.
6. Read the Net Price, VAT Amount and Gross Price, and click Copy to copy the result.

You can change the rate by hand at any time, for example to use a reduced rate.

What You See on the Page

VAT Formulas

Add VAT (net to gross)

VAT amount  = net price x (rate / 100)
Gross price = net price + VAT amount
            = net price x (1 + rate / 100)

Remove VAT (gross to net)

Net price  = gross price / (1 + rate / 100)
VAT amount = gross price - net price

Quick multipliers

VAT Calculation Examples

The amounts are examples. The same math works in any currency.

Add VAT

Remove VAT

Amounts are rounded to two decimal places.

A Common Mistake When Removing VAT

Many people take the VAT percentage off the gross price. This gives the wrong answer, because VAT was added to the net price, not to the gross price.

To remove VAT, always divide the gross price by 1 plus the rate as a decimal.

Standard VAT Rates in the EU

Each EU country sets its own standard VAT rate, within limits agreed at EU level. The table shows the standard rates used by the calculator. Many countries also have reduced rates for certain goods and services, and some have special rates for specific regions or cases, so a different rate can apply to your product.

These are standard rates. Governments change their rates from time to time, so always confirm the current rate with your national tax authority or the European Commission before you use it on an invoice or a tax return.

Standard Rate vs Reduced Rate

The calculator fills in the standard rate when you pick a country. To use a reduced rate, type it in the VAT rate box after you check which rate applies to your product.

VAT-Inclusive vs VAT-Exclusive Prices

If you have the net price, use Add VAT. If you have the price a customer pays, use Remove VAT to find the net price and the VAT amount.

What Else to Know About VAT

• The seller collects it, the buyer pays it. The seller adds VAT to the invoice and pays it to the tax authority, after taking off the VAT the seller has paid on business costs.
• Invoices must show the VAT. A VAT invoice normally shows the net price, the VAT rate, the VAT amount and the gross price.
• Selling to another EU country. Special rules can apply, such as the reverse charge for some business sales or schemes for online sellers. This calculator does not apply them.
• Registration thresholds. Businesses may need to register for VAT above a certain turnover, and the limit depends on the country. Ask your tax authority.
• VAT is not the same as sales tax. Sales tax, used in the US, is charged only at the final sale, while VAT is charged at each stage and included in consumer prices.
• The United Kingdom is not in the EU. It has its own VAT rules. The GBP option in this tool only shows the pound symbol.

Rounding

The calculator rounds the results to two decimal places. When you remove VAT, the net price and the VAT amount are rounded separately from the gross price you typed, so a very small difference of one cent can appear in some cases. On a real invoice with many lines, the rounding rules of your country or accounting software decide whether VAT is calculated per line or on the invoice total, and this can change the total by a cent or two. Follow your invoicing rules for official documents.

Tips for Using the VAT Calculator

• Check which price you have. Net price means Add VAT, and gross price means Remove VAT.
• Use the right country. The rate depends on where the VAT is due, and for some sales this is not your own country.
• Check for a reduced rate if you sell or buy food, books, medicines or services that some countries tax at a lower rate.
• Keep the amounts separate on invoices. Show the net price, the VAT amount and the gross price.
• Use Copy to paste the result straight into your invoice or spreadsheet.
• Re-check rates once in a while. Rates can change, and old rates on a template can cause mistakes.
• Ask an accountant for cross-border sales, VAT registration and tax returns.

Common Mistakes

• Subtracting the percentage to remove VAT: Divide by 1 plus the rate instead.
• Choosing the wrong mode: Add VAT on a gross price counts the tax twice.
• Using the wrong rate: Standard and reduced rates are different, and countries are different.
• Treating the currency selector as a converter: It changes only the symbol.
• Using an old rate: Check the current rate with the tax authority.
• Assuming one rate fits a whole invoice: Different items can have different rates.
• Forgetting special rules for cross-border sales: This calculator does not apply them.

Privacy and Accuracy

• The calculation is done in your browser, and the amounts you enter are not sent to our server.
• We do not save your amounts or results.
• The country rates are standard rates and can become out of date. Many goods and services have a different rate.
• These are standard rates and tax laws can change. The results are estimates and not tax advice. For invoices, tax returns and VAT registration, check with your national tax authority or a qualified accountant.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add VAT to a price?

Choose Add VAT, enter the net price (the price without VAT) and the VAT rate, then click Calculate. The VAT amount is the net price multiplied by the rate, and the gross price is the net price plus the VAT amount. For example, 100 at 19 percent VAT gives 19 of VAT and a gross price of 119.

How do I remove VAT from a price?

Choose Remove VAT, enter the gross price (the price that already includes VAT) and the VAT rate, then click Calculate. The net price is the gross price divided by 1 plus the rate as a decimal, and the VAT amount is the gross price minus the net price. For example, 119 at 19 percent VAT gives a net price of 100 and VAT of 19.

Why can I not just subtract the VAT percentage from the gross price?

Because VAT is charged on the net price, not on the gross price. Taking 19 percent off 119 gives 96.39, which is wrong. The correct net price is 119 divided by 1.19, which is 100. To remove VAT, always divide by 1 plus the rate.

What are net price, VAT amount and gross price?

The net price is the price before VAT. The VAT amount is the tax. The gross price is the price you pay, which is the net price plus VAT. Gross is also called VAT-inclusive and net is also called VAT-exclusive.

How does the country dropdown work?

Pick an EU country from the list, shown with its flag, and the calculator fills in that country's standard VAT rate. You can still change the rate by hand, for example to use a reduced rate.

Are these the correct VAT rates for my country?

The calculator uses the standard rate of each country. Countries can change their rates, and many also have reduced rates for certain goods and services, such as some food, books or public transport. Check the current rate for your product with your national tax authority or the European Commission before you rely on a figure.

Can I use a reduced VAT rate?

Yes. Type the reduced rate in the VAT rate box yourself. The calculator does not know which goods have a reduced rate, so check the rule for your product first.

Does the currency selector convert my amount?

No. It only changes the currency symbol shown with the results. The calculation is the same for any currency. The United Kingdom is not in the EU, so selecting GBP only shows the pound symbol and does not apply any UK rule.

What is the difference between VAT-inclusive and VAT-exclusive?

A VAT-inclusive price already contains the tax, which is the gross price. A VAT-exclusive price does not contain the tax yet, which is the net price. Shops that sell to consumers in the EU usually show VAT-inclusive prices, while businesses often quote VAT-exclusive prices to other businesses.

Does the calculator handle reverse charge or cross-border sales?

No. The calculator applies one rate to one amount. Rules for selling to other EU countries, such as the reverse charge for some business sales or schemes for online sellers, depend on your situation, so check them with your tax authority or an accountant.

How is the result rounded?

Amounts are shown to two decimal places. On an invoice with many lines, the rounding rules of your country or accounting software may give a total that differs by a cent or two from adding rounded lines, so follow your invoicing rules for official documents.

Is my information sent to a server?

No. The calculation is done in your browser using JavaScript, and the amounts you enter are not sent to our server.

Is this VAT calculator free, and is it tax advice?

The tool is free and needs no signup. It gives estimates only and is not tax or legal advice. For invoices, tax returns and registration questions, check with your tax authority or a qualified accountant.